BackgroundHigh prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease is attributable to sedentary lifestyle and eating diets high in fat and refined carbohydrate while eating diets low in fruit and vegetables. Epidemiological studies have confirmed a strong association between eating diets rich in fruits and vegetables and cardiovascular health. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether drinking fresh carrot juice influences antioxidant status and cardiovascular risk markers in subjects not modifying their eating habits.MethodsAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of consuming 16 fl oz of daily freshly squeezed carrot juice for three months on cardiovascular risk markers, C-reactive protein, insulin, leptin, interleukin-1α, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, antioxidant status, and malondialdehyde production. Fasting blood samples were collected pre-test and 90 days afterward to conclude the study.ResultsDrinking carrot juice did not affect (P > 0.1) the plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo A, Apo B, LDL, HDL, body fat percentage, insulin, leptin, interleukin-1α, or C-reactive protein. Drinking carrot juice decreased (P = 0.06) systolic pressure, but did not influence diastolic pressure. Drinking carrot juice significantly (P < 0.05) increased the plasma total antioxidant capacity and decreased (P < 0.05) the plasma malondialdehyde production.ConclusionDrinking carrot juice may protect the cardiovascular system by increasing total antioxidant status and by decreasing lipid peroxidation independent of any of the cardiovascular risk markers measured in the study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the world and is the primary cause of mortality among Americans. One of the many reasons for the pathogenesis of CVD is attributed to eating diets high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates and low in fruits and vegetables. Epidemiological evidence has supported a strong association between eating diets rich in fruits and vegetables and cardiovascular health. An experiment was conducted utilizing 24 adults with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia to evaluate the impact of drinking 20 fl oz of freshly squeezed orange juice daily for 90 days on blood pressure, lipid panels, plasma antioxidant capacity, metabolic hormones, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory markers. Except for addition of drinking orange juice, subjects did not modify their eating habits. The findings suggested that drinking orange juice does not affect (P>.1) blood pressure, lipid panels, metabolic hormones, body fat percentage, or inflammatory markers. However, total plasma antioxidant capacity was significantly increased (P<.05) and lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased (P<.05) after orange juice consumption. Drinking orange juice may protect the cardiovascular system by increasing total plasma antioxidant status and by lowering lipid peroxidation independent of other cardiovascular risk markers evaluated in this study.

Cardiovascular disease is attributed to sedentary lifestyle, diets high in fat and refined carbohydrates, and low in fruits and vegetables. The objective of this study was to determine whether drinking grapefruit juice positively influences cardiovascular risk markers, antioxidant status, and lipid peroxidation in adults not changing their eating habits. An experiment to test whether daily consumption of 20 fl. oz. of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice for two months affected lipid panels, C-reactive protein, insulin, body composition, blood pressure, antioxidant status, and malondialdehyde production was conducted. Fasting blood samples were collected pre-treatment and 60 days after drinking grapefruit juice post-treatment. Drinking grapefruit juice did not affect (P > 0.1) plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo A, Apo B, LDL, HDL, body fat percentage, BMI, blood pressure, plasma insulin, or C-reactive protein. Drinking grapefruit juice did not affect systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, drinking grapefruit juice significantly (P < 0.05) increased total plasma antioxidant capacity and decreased (P < 0.05) plasma malondialdehyde concentration. Drinking grapefruit juice may be cardio-protective via increasing total antioxidant status and decreasing lipid peroxidation independent of any of the cardiovascular risk markers measured in the study.